Freedom's daughter

The room the chief gave us is small, clearly made for only one person. I can't complain, in the end it's free.

It also includes just the bare minimum: a single bed, a wardrobe, and a mirror. It seems that elves are more spiritual than materialists.

"Well... It looks like I'll have to sleep on the floor. Can I at least have the pillow?"

"Oh, sure. If you want, tomorrow we can change." 

I take it and place it down.

"Don't worry about it. Also, we should go to bed earlier than usual. I bet they wake up as soon as the sun rises."

After getting ready, we both set down to sleep.

""Goodnight.""

-

"--------!!!"

"--!!!"

Mmm... What's going on? 

I sit up, Lyet is still asleep.

I check out the window, it's still the middle of the night, which leads me to an obvious conclusion...

I shake her shoulder to wake her up.

"Noooo." She mumbles.

"Lyet, didn't you hear those screams? I believe there are demons around."

"Uh? Really?" She says, sitting up. 

"I'll head out, join when you are ready."

-

When I reach the platform, I see they are in the middle of a fight.

The platforms are full of elves shooting arrows down to the ground, but... If I look, I don't see anything, yet they keep shooting.

Oh, wait! It's hard to tell from up here, but I just noticed the grass and the dirt keep moving around, but I keep failing to see what is moving them.

Are demons small? Or worse, very fast?

For sure, it's not a succubus; Lyet wouldn't be able to perform such a feat.

Assuming elves aren't shooting randomly, it can only mean their eyes are capable of following those movements.

"Histrio!"

"Come here and look down."

"I... I don't see anything."

"Yet they are shooting at something. Is there a demon who can become extremely small or very fast?"

"Not that I'm aware..."

"----!"

They hit one! I can finally make out what it looks like. It's a humanoid with black horns, its skin is gray, and it has white hair.

"I have never seen this kind of demon in my life. I mean, physically it looks like one, sure, but everything else falls apart. He isn't hiding his horns, and his skin is gray; it's like self-proclaiming itself as a demon. We wouldn't do that like this."

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

I don't even have time to process the first sound that an elf is killed. A demon bit his carotid artery.

Did it jump all the way up here? It made four sounds. I believe it jumped from tree to tree.

The problem now is... It's here with us, and I bet soon even more will join.

All elves remain silent, not moving a single inch.

At a certain point, though, the demon's ear twitches and, dashing faster than the speed of sound, it goes again for the carotid artery of an elf, but this time it is anticipated.

As it was close to biting, an arrow, shot beforehand, penetrates his skull, killing it.

I take Lyet to the side of the platform, taking some distance from the battlefield.

"We shouldn't get involved more than we already are."

"I agree, I won't be any help..."

The battle continues, and for now, the elves have the advantage, not because they are stronger but because they are smarter. The demons attack mindlessly when reacting to sounds, while the elves fight as a group. They also understood how the opponents move, thus making them capable of anticipating their actions.

?!

Between the trees I can see a... Portal?

"Lyet, there, what is it?"

A black circle painted by the darkest of the shadows floats above the ground.

"It's a portal to Hell... Does this mean they are actually demons?"

A second later, a creature comes out. Another demon, different from the others. It's around five meters tall and has bat wings with a wing profile of seven meters. It doesn't have a face, its horns recall a bull, and its skin is completely black, making it almost invisible at this time of the night.

"A Galla..." She whispers.

"A Galla? What is it?"

"A demonic race, but it's unique from the others. It doesn't follow their rules, such as having to interact with mortals. Its purpose is to capture and bring back to hell all the demons who harm mortals. They are how Lucifer tries to prevent the loopholes I talked to you about. They are basically the guards of Hell."

"I see, does it mean it is here to fight the other demons?"

"Let's watch."

The Galla alone walks inside the battlefield, unfazed. All demons stop moving and, as if their instinct is warning them, they all face it.

The elves thought, don't just stay here to watch, they return to shoot arrows now targeting the Galla as well.

The Galla channels its magic, and the next moment all creatures and all the flying arrows stop moving. Everything is covered by dark tentacles, as if chained.

"Histrio... Don't panic, it won't hurt us. It's just how their ability works."

"...I hope you are right."

The Galla then tightens its hand, and all demons crush under the tentacles, leaving everything else unharmed. It then frees us and leaves by the same portal he used to come.

Everyone is confused, not knowing what happened.

-

We eventually return to our room.

"Histrio... Do you think people misjudge demons because of those creatures? I don't mean the Galla, but the others."

"Well... As you said, they resemble a demon, so it's possible. It's not the only reason people hate you, though."

"What do you mean?"

"If people were scared of those 'demons', then they would surely see the difference between mindless beasts and you. If you think about it, Dante surely noticed you were capable of acting like a human, and yet she decided to attack. It's likely religion. It influences people daily, and from the book I read, Lucifer is portrayed as a sinner, which naturally brings people to believe all demons are as bad. These other 'demons' are a secondary cause of the hate."

"I see... We should go back to sleep then..."

"Are you ok?"

"Yes, I'm just thinking, don't worry."

"Goodnight then..."

"Night."